Drone Injury Lawsuit

You Need Our Attorneys on Your Side if You Were Hurt by a Flying Drone

The use of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, has been steadily growing over the past few years. If you haven't seen one of these flying robots, you might have heard that businesses are looking into using them for drone deliveries. These remotely piloted aircraft may soon be used to deliver packages to a home or a business. Photographers can mount cameras to drones to capture images from hundreds of feet above ground.

Unmanned aerial vehicles also are being used by people for non-commercial purposes. Someone who has no experience flying a drone can use the device essentially as a toy for recreation. Many of the basic models can be purchased for under $100, while more sophisticated drones can be bought for over $1,000.

How an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Can Cause Injuries

But these aren't harmless model airplanes. With long sharp blades used to propel these miniature helicopters, a drone has the potential to cause serious injury or death. Our drone injury attorneys understand the operator of the drone - whether it's a private individual or a business - can be held liable for any personal injuries or loss of life.

Drone operators must use reasonable care when people are nearby. If they fail to do so, they may be named as a defendant in a lawsuit. If you are injured, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional trauma and other damages.

In Massachusetts, a Memorial Day parade bystander was injured after a drone struck him in May 2015, according to a MetroWest Daily News report. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured, according to the report. Law enforcement ban the use of drones at the Boston Marathon due to safety concerns.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, civilians cannot fly their drones higher than 400 feet and beyond the line of sight or fly them within 5 miles of an airport. Much of the use by civilian operators, however, falls into a legal gray area, according to an NPR report titled "Where Can Drones Fly? Legal Limits Are Up in the Air."

Anticipating more general interest in using drones, federal and state lawmakers are trying to figure out what types of restrictions to place on civilian operators.

In addition to the potential to cause injury, drones also can be used to invade privacy. For example, one of these small flying machines has the potential to hover near a window in your home and take photographs. You may have grounds to take legal action against the drone operator for invading your right to privacy.